Historical example 1: Using the Model  

Babymother (1998) grossed £62,928 in UK cinemas.

• Cinemas/Exhibitors keep 50% = £31,464.
• Distributor’s share = £31,464.
• Split of Distributor’s share = 62.5% producer (Channel 4) / 37.5% (BUFF Studios).

Producer gets £19,665  (after theatrical run ends and all box office reports are declared. Producer submits invoice and revenue is paid within 45 calendar days).

BUFF gets £11,799.

Producer has already spent £20,000 on P&A, so their net return = £335 loss after P&A.

In a traditional model, that £20k (traditionally uncapped) would first be clawed back by the distributor, delaying producer returns. Some distributors take a flat distribution fee (usually 25-35%) on top of recouping the P&A BEFORE the producer receives any money. For this example, Channel 4 was the actual producer and distributor (the traditional studio model).

In the BUFF model, the producer receives £19,665 once the theatrical run ends; all box office reports are received by BUFF; BUFF delivers a report to the producer and asks for the producer to raise an invoice for £19,665; money is settled within 45 calendar days.

Historical example 2: Using the Model  

Half of a Yellow Sun (2014) grossed £151,784 in UK cinemas.

• Cinemas/Exhibitors keep 50% = £75,892.
• Distributor’s share = £75,892.
• Split of Distributor’s share = 62.5% producer (Soda Films) / 37.5% (BUFF Studios).

Producer gets £47,432.50  (after theatrical run ends and all box office reports are declared. Producer submits invoice and revenue is paid within 45 calendar days).

BUFF gets £28,459.50.

Producer has already spent £20,000 on P&A, so their net return = £27,432.50 profit after P&A.

In a traditional model, that £20k (traditionally uncapped) would first be clawed back by the distributor, delaying producer returns. Some distributors take a flat distribution fee (usually 25-35%) on top of recouping the P&A BEFORE the producer receives any money.

In the BUFF model, the producer receives £47,432.50 once the theatrical run ends; all box office reports are received by BUFF; BUFF delivers a report to the producer and asks for the producer to raise an invoice for £47,432.50; money is settled within 45 calendar days.

Transparent distribution. Fairer deals. Real results.

 
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